If you live in Bayarea CA, you end up paying 30K for the EX with 1 month wait from the local Honda dealers all the way up to Oregon and south down to LA. If you go with Mazda ES your you get quoted around 26-27K..great van by the way...then for ultimate deal if you have to have Japanese..go for Nissan Quest at 21K GXE..In bay area for every Odyssey on the road you see 7 Villager/Quest...for the price you get loads of option along with best engine & transmission on the road (Pathfinder V6). If you still want Odyssey..there is one dealer in Elko, NV that will sell at MSRP $28,800 with NAV..but you gotta drive 10 hours and spend a night at a cheap motel.Now there are Sienna's and GC's but they are couple of thousand higher than Odyssey...for that price range..you get to argue with some folks about quality and reliability..bottom line..if you want Odyssey..you have to pay up...Go test drive the 3 mini's I mentioned..so you have a good knowledge on features and handling and etc.,
The Isuzu Oasis is made by Honda, and it has very good built qulity and a resell value that no Ford can reach. I will pick any honda car over any Ford any time. There is no truck from Honda and that is a disappointment.
I bought Ody last Monday. On this long weekend, we drove it for a long trip. We have EX with Nav. The Nav system works very great. I would put into this way, I believe the Nav system is basically a junior cruise missle guiding system. It works accurately and user-friendly. I believe the extra dollars are worth it. I will report more about it later.
We have a problem, however, on this new Ody. When I got it from dealer, it had 3 miles on odemeter. But, it has the problem pulling to the left slightly from the very begining. This slightly pulling to the left makes hightway driving hard. Of course, I am going to ask dealer check it out. I want to ask how many of you experience such a problem? Are Honda doing worse job for quality control now than then?
Other than this problem, we have not notice other things. This long trip took about 700 mils.
Got our new Ody LX on 4/3,have put 240 miles on in snowy NH and got 18mpg in 50/50 driving,more than I expected after reading some of the scary posts here. No pulls R or L,no shimmys,no trany noise,and no thumps in the night.After owning a new 89 Civic for 12 years without one problem why change now at 68 years of age. I've owned 4 Fords Ugh!,2 Chryslers and two Plymouths double Ugh!,a VW (electrical nightmare),2 Chevys,a Rambler,and the worst of all,a new 86 Ford Ranger triple Ugh! which had the paint peel off. I'll take the Honda.
"We've had 3 Odys (long story) and 2 had trannies replaced while we had them."
Could you share your experiences with us? You must have some luck with Honda's automatic transmissions:) Kind a fishy to me too! are you Ms. Blake's husband?:) -engine sluds with Toyota, and transmission failures with Honda.
"We were told that Honda would not allow the dealer to rebuild the tranny of these relatively new vehicles. Essentially, it was said that Honda wanted all problem trannies sent to them and that they wanted to take no chances on a dealer rebuild."
All modern automatic tranaxles are complicated animals. In general, Dealers don't have the time and expertise in house to overhaul them. It is a lot more cost effective to replace the entire unit if it is "REALLY" defective. Put it this way, it is likely to introduce more problems than trying to solve the original problem.
Any way, I "REALLY" don't think reverse engagement noise is an "ALARMING" issue. It's like a "FREE " reminder to driver, needing to be careful when shifting. I don't like it either. But until Honda put in synchronizers on their reverse selector, there will be that thud noise whenever you shift from D to R. From what I've observed so far, all automatic trannies from Honda have the same design over last 10 years at least. My co-worker's 98 civic auto 4 cyl have had the noise since new; it has 50,000 miles now, and never a problem with the tranny. A co-worker with 2000 Ody EX, same noise, approximate 9000 miles, has no problem. another co-worker owns a 91 Acura Integra, 110,000 miles, same noise since new, with no problem whatsoever with his tranny. I went to dealer for free oil change the other day, there happened to be an 2001 Ody EX waiting to be oil changed also. I asked the Master Mechanic to test drive the van while I listened by the side of the vehicle; sure enough, there is that "thud" noise. My office budy had a 1985 accord, 350,000 miles, never have a problem with his auto trany and sold it for 900 bucks recently. Lastly, my wife's 91 accord EX, now with 200,000 miles, still going strong, don't remember hearing the noise but never had any problem with her transmission either. Well, I expect my 2000 Ody LX's trany to last for 150,000 miles at least. One isssue thou, Ody is a heavy van, it puts a lot of stress on trany, and 100,000 extended waranty is a good idea to have. above just my humbled opinion:)
I forgot to mention that I've test drive dealer's 99 Ody EX shuttle van. It had over 50,000 miles on it. The reverse engagement noises were less noticeable; I have to really listen to it to feel it. Perhaps, as the tranny wore, the noise got tired too:)
I am going to buy a new Odyssey. I think the LX is the one I am buying since the options on the EX are not worth $2400 to me. BUT does anyone know if the seats in the LX are as comfortable as the EX's because if they are not then we will buy an EX. We can't find an LX to look at. As you all know the market is very strong on these. Please let me know if you have any insight into my dilema. Is the material comparable on the seats?
After browsing through this forum for about three weeks now, I would like to thank everyone for their comments. There were many useful comments and insight that allowed my purchasing experience to be a pleasant one. I think it's my turn to potentially help someone else, or at least inform the audience.
Purchased SS Ody EX without Nav for well below MSRP on Friday, 4/13/01. It was low enough for me to drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Dayton, OH. I ordered it on 4/07/01 and both the dealership and I were expecting it at the end of the month. Boy, was I surprised. I bought it from Voss Honda dealership. I'm sure the midwest hospitality will be served to anyone who visits this dealership. However, my experience with Wally Scisson (800-597-8677) was ABSOLUTELY wonderful considering that this has been my seventh car I purchased in all my life.
I saw many messages that mentioned Kentucky and various parts of IN, OH, and IL offering below MSRP. I called all those mentioned in this forum during early part of April + I blindly contacted many Honda dealerships in these areas, including greater Pittsburgh, PA. There were a few who were willing to waive destination charge, but that wasn't enough for me. The only dealership who actually went below $440 above and beyond MSRP was Voss Honda and Wally Scisson as my saleperson.
They also provided HondaCare 7/100/0 for $875 without any hassel. I named the price, and they had no problem with it.
About three weeks ago, I knew I wanted to purchase a Honda Ody. I wasn't entirely clear about a LX versus EX w/o Navigation. The forum had mixed feelings about this. I have a five year old, two year old, and am expecting a third child within three weeks from today. Naturally, the automatic sliding doors are of concern. Nevertheless, during those moments of, let's say, grocery shopping, I think it's worthwhile to be able to just press a button and let the kids run right in...a feature I like to think of as a safety issue around the parking lot.
As for accessories, the prices Wally was offering were pretty good. They were a bit above what you can get at the HANDA-ACCESSORIES.COM. I ended up purchasing it from the website because I didn't have prior knowledge about it, but future customers may want to consider Wally's prices for the following two reasons: 1) the dealership installs them for you and 2) they are also covered as part of your warranty. The ones that I ordered (cargo tray, mud guards, wheel locks, and x-bars) will only have 12 months warranty. Something to consider.
Before Pickup: After I made my initial call, everything was conducted via telephone calls and faxes. Wally and I agreed on a price. He faxed me a confirmation of what we had agreed including financing rate of 6.79% for 60 months. Wally was very professional and responded to my requests very promptly. He kept me informed as to what the current status of the vehicle was (e.g., he called and said that the vehicle is currently at Niagara Falls, and that it should be arriving the next day). All documentation that was needed for the processing of paperworks, he requested them in advance so that my time at the dealership was minimized (e.g., copy of drivers license). Lastly, he requested for my insurance information only to find out that I didn't need to do anything with my insurance until AFTER I returned home. Wally took care of all of that on my behalf. This was an experience I never had! Prior to the pickup, Wally gave me a great direction (from Pittsburgh, I70 west; I75 north at Dayton, OH; 3rd exit (exit #68), make a right onto State route 571; immediate right turn at the first stop light onto Garber Rd...there is a BP gas station and a McDonalds - with an activity center for the kids).
During Pickup: Upon my arrival, Wally introduced himself and greeted me. The vehicle was in great shape; all the paperworks were ready. He went over the papers and introduced me to the financial manager who went over all the details including the financing of the vehicle. All of this took less than 30 minutes. Subsequently, Wally went over the vehicle. I used the great "check list" provided by this forum (www.1netweb.com/checklist.htm)...I checked what I could and they were all in great working order. I did ask Wally to demonstrate the following: second row seat slider; third row seats fold; and use of security features. Wally convincingly placed his arm without hesitation to demonstrate that the sliding doors will retrieve if it detects something in its way. Wally did exactly that + one more feature that I didn't know about nor read about. It's pretty neat. First, you remove all three headrests. You keep the third row seats in tact (i.e., don't fold it). Release the lever that holds the seat in place, then pull so that the third row seats are facing you. Although the hatch cannot be closed, it is a great feature (I think) for the kids when they are at the beach having a snack or during a soccer game for a quick stop. Most of all, for enjoying a sunset (which I plan to do in the near future).
The rest of the family now was able to "see" the vehicle. Needless to say, the kids went wild. I think that's because they can roam and walk inside of the vehicle. They loved it. Another family was next to us in their new Ody EX. Their kids, more grown up, went crazy also.
After pickup: Because I rented a vehicle to drive to Dayton, OH, I had to return the vehicle to a nearby airport (about 8 miles away from the dealership). Wally was nice enough to take his time to drive to the airport with us so that we can drop our rental. During the drive back to the dealership, Wally shared additional Ody insight that was helpful. Overall, a very professional and pleasant gentleman.
There is an advertisement here in Pittsburgh that I had not believed in until I met Wally - who would have thought that one can have an ENJOYABLE experience purchasing a vehicle!
The 300 miles drive back home was very very pleasant. The vehicle was solid. Wally (well, the dealership) filled the tank up. We came home with the gas gauge indicating a bit over 1/4 remaining. The gas light has not come up at this point. I was informed by Wally that the light will typically come up when there is about 4 gallons remaining although it will vary a bit from car to car.
There is much more to my experience, but.....So, I hope that this is helpful, and I also hope that I didn't irritate anyone with such lengthy message. If you have specific questions for me, feel free to contact me at dgk@andrew.cmu.edu. I am a professor at the Carnegie Mellon University in case anyone is wondering.
Just an FYI... I just got back from a road trip from Ohio to Florida...I was very pleased with my mileage that ranged from 21.5 - 26 mpg traveling about 80mph to keep up with traffic. By the way, the weather was great on the beach!!!
The comfort of the seats are purely subjective, especially on the LX. I'm not sure but I think the passenger seat is the same on both. I know that they have added height adjustment to 2001 LX so that is kind of nice. I have no problem with the LX seats but others have. I find that one needs to assume proper posture in order to be comfortable in the LX seat. They are not made for slouching IMHO. For long trips I put a pillow behind the 'ole lumbar and am comfortable for as long as I can stay awake.
Have read past posts about PIAA bulbs for upgrading to 01 LX Ody and also higher watt backup bulbs for same. Any + or - comments or recommendations for above appreciated.
We own a 2000 lx with 10,000 miles and our longest trip was 2400 miles over a period of a week I found the front drivers seat to be very comfortable and we have had zero problems with this van. Purchase the van that suits YOUR needs.
I bought my Odyssey 2000 last August and from day one I heard the "thud" discussed in an earlier post. I took it to the dealer to get the "thud" checked out and they told me it was my strutts. They replaced them. Took the van home from the dealership only to find that the thud was still there when shifting gears. I've read that many Odysseys have a similar clunking sound. But it does concern me. Do you think that I should pursue a transmission replacement?
I just read a post in temple of v-tech about Honda using 250HP engine and 5-speed auto tranny in 2002 Odyssey. The post did mention this cannot be officially confirmed as of now.
The "thud" might be the gas in the gas tank. I've read that here countless times, and then I finally heard it (duing one of the rare times the radio wasn't on). Now I notice it all the time.
Would be nice if the 2002 US models came with heated side mirros like the Canadien models do (I think). It does get cold and freezing in the US too.(thought Honda would have realized that)
3 of the top 6 spots is owned by Ford. Accord is the only product line by Honda listed there. So you may want to have H on your hood but zillion others want the blue logo.
Being popular doesn't = good value, well built, etc. Just because all the sheep follow each other into the slaughterhouse, doesn't mean it's a good idea...
Adding some controversy to this board, here are some comments:
Consumer Reports points out that a mini van is a more practical and more useful vehicle then a SUV, unless you need to do off road driving or tow a large load. The Ford Windstar, while a good van, is not as good as the Odyssey, as confirmed by a number of different test reports. Also test reports show a number of problems with the Ford SUV's. I drove a Ford Explorer for about 200 miles on a test drive, as I was considering that and the Odyssey. After I drove both vehicles, it was no contest. The Odyssey won out. Ford has re designed the Explorer for 2002, so that model may do well. The Ford Excursion is considered at the bottom of the SUV's, and sales for it are poor.
I was sick that my 2000 Odyssey Nav css received its first war wound yesterday evening in a parking lot bump and run. The bumper was not dented, but the paint was cracked in a star burst pattern. I called the dealership and found out that underneath the paint is a rubber coating, so rust was not a large issue. Our deductible is high, so I thought I would try my hand at a fix before resorting to more expensive measures. Almost all the paint was still there, but it was no longer adhering to the undercoat. I was afraid that even driving to the dealership for touch-up paint would knock chips loose. I got up this AM.. and working in the shade with a small craft brush, I slide some clear poly-finish under the loose paint. When the sun hit the repair spot, it sucked it down nice and tight. Then I had only a tiny missing chip to fill in with touch-up paint. I didn't use the brush that came with the touch-up paint, but rather a much, much smaller brush. The results were really good. I can barely see the damage. I am sure no one else would even notice. I am relieved to avoid a large repair bill. I just thought I would mention it for anyone else who finds themselves under similar circumstances and feels brave. It should hold up well, since the poly finish is water resistant. I'll let you know if I have any problems. Safe driving to you all.
I haven't been reading lately so I had a lot of catching up to do regarding the latest van vs suv posts. Since it didn't sound like an suv'er could convince a van owner and vice versa, I thought I'd mention something for the readers who haven't decided between an suv or a van. I had to replace about 20' of fence a few weeks ago. Went to the local hardware store and loaded up. With the third seat down, the back of one of the second row of seats folded forward, and the front passenger seat moved forward I was able to load-- 4 4x10'x10' posts(from the front dash to the rear hatch), 4 2x4x10's, 43, yes 43 1x6x8' fence boards and 3 90lb. bags of cement. And close the hatch. The van did not look appreciably lower either. The v6 has plenty of power, the mileage is better than an suv (though maybe by not as much as we'd all like) good handling, no rollover worries compared to an suv, better resale value and maybe something the suv'ers don't consider, sliding doors on both sides. It's sure easier to get in and out of tight parking spaces not to mention loading when you don't have to worry about door clearance. As for 4wd, I live in Oregon where every other vehicle seems to be a 4wd and that 4wd is not used nearly as much as one would think it would be here. BTW I have a 2000 lx, no problems so far.
I realize that this is a debate-type forum but no need to generalize that all American cars are bad. With that said, I would like to pose a question: Ford does lead the sales in the truck and SUV sales, but how 'bout the rest of world (ie. outside the Western Hemisphere)? For example on national geographic and similiar shows you see people use Landcruisers, 4Runners, Land Rover Discoveries, and the occasional Jeeps, but what about the Explorer or even Expedition? Whenever we (US) go in to support the UN, what kind of cars do you see the UN use? Nissan Patrols, 4Runners, Disco's, MB G-Wagon, but where are the Fords? (Okay, you also see the awesome Hummer, but that's in a totally different class.) As for minivans, I'm not sure if the Windstar is sold in Europe, but I know the Odyssey is sold as a "La Great" in Japan and probably something else in Europe. Am I saying that all foreign cars are superior to domestics? Heck no. But, it does show that many foreign car companies can design a globally accepted automobile whereas the big Three does a good job catering to the Western Hemisphere. Okay, time to get off the soap box...
It's unlikely gas-guzzlers such as SUV would sell well outside the US because of high gas prices. Up north where gas is $0.80/litre means you have to slap down a hundred-dollar-bill everytime you fill up your Expedition. Of course in Europe and the rest of the world, you'd be paying 4 times as much. Offroad and towing capabilities are just excuses people make up to justify buying SUVs. When was the last time you saw an SUV towing a 6000lbs cargo? It's a fact 90% of the people drive their SUVs exclusively on road. Of the 10% that take their SUVs "off-road", 9% probably drive on gravel or packed dirt and call it "off-roading." Any why would anyone want to destroy the environment by taking their gas-guzzler into the forest? Oh wait, it's obvious they don't care about the environment.
How about cargo space inside the vehicle? The Odyssey has about the same interior room as the Excursion while carrying less weight and sitting lower and burning much less gas.
Well outside the US, generally every "road" is an off-road trail, that is why you see vehicles such as the Landcruiser, Pajero(montero), Jackaroo(Trooper) and not Jeeps, Exploders, Blazers etc. More people actually use the utility factor of SUVs than you would think. The other thing is that although mini-vans are good, do you really think that a FWD mini-van is gonna be able to tow a 3500-4500lb boat trailer or camping trailer as well as an SUV? SUVs have a truck frame, which gives it exceptional towning and loading capacity. The drivetrains are setup better for weight carryingand towing. I agree that there are people who don't use SUVs for what they are meant, but that doesn't mean they should be put down for this. Why not say that people who have sports cars don't use them to their full ability since most states have a max speed limit of 65-75mph?
Although your Odessey can hold as much on paper as an excursion, plese don't try to compare them, they are not built for the same purpose nor should they even come into the same discussion.
I totally agree with you about comparing SUV's and vans. But as you said most people buy SUV's with the perception of being able to carry more (volume-wise) than a van. Yeah, roads are typically rough-roads outside the US. Been to Malaysia a couple of summers ago and they have roads there that would tear apartt your suspension in a matter of a 2-3 years. But yet, people drive regular passenger cars through it all. (The average mercedes benz will probably see rougher terrain than the average SUV here!)
Anyhow, I believe it was frank2001 who began the Expedition vs. Odyssey debate, not any of us Ody owners. But as Ian2 pointed out, many people make up excuses for buying SUV's. Yes, there are people who actually use SUV's as their intended for (I have a '91 Nissan Pathfinder that's used to Pre-Run construction sites). Everyone's needs are different, but due to marketing of many auto companies, people THINK that an SUV would suit their needs the best, but in most cases they're mislead.
So the point is, I don't think any of us here are challenging the fact that an Ody does better offroading nor in the towing capacity department. Good day.
Just like to point that out the typical speed on our "off-road trails" is around 90mph. Those SUVs can barely keep up!
Going back to the Ody vs Expedition debate... To many of us Ody owners who don't tow anything over 3000lbs, an Expedition would not provide more utility. So what if they cost the same? People buy minivans because they provide more utility more efficiently. The Expedition sits higher making it hard to get in and out of, rolls over easier, drives like a truck, has less usable space while burning 50% more gas.
The main reason (admit it) people buy SUVs is because they want the sporty image (yeah, like an SUV will make a fat person look sporty). That's why we have so many cross-over, unibody, SUV-wannabes on the road right now. Hopefully, this attitude will change once recession hits later this year and as the baby-boomers age.
An Ody gets 17 MPG in the city, as does the Chrysler T&C. The Expedition gets 16 MPG in the city with the 4.6L engine. Not exactly 50% more. Check you fuzzy math. Even the 5.4L engine gets 12MPG, which is 29% less, not 50%.
I test-drove an Odyssey (a used 2000 model) last night after much research. I found that most of the problems mentioned, such as noise and gearshift placement, weren't really noteworthy. But I was surprised to find myself uncertain whether I really would enjoy the ride long-term. I thought it "jiggled" a bit more than I expected, even on roads that were fairly smooth. It didn't give me a sense of plushness, but rather busy-ness. Those of you who've ridden in your Odysseys for a long time now and have ridden in other minivans such as the Sienna, what's your feeling about the ride? Is it the price you pay for good handling and lack of wallow? Do you wish it were a little smoother? Do different tires mellow it out?
"Being popular doesn't = good value, well built, etc. Just because all the sheep follow each other into the slaughterhouse, doesn't mean it's a good idea"..
I am sure Sienna, GC owners say the same for your Odyssey since Honda doesn't offer basic options such as leather seat, running board, TV/VCR,moon roof or built-in child seat..most of these are a must for family with kids. If you buy them from 3rd party your Odyssey will cost over 35K or more.
Billg,...Explorer and Expeditions are two different SUV's one is lot smaller than the other..Compare apples to apples..just because you drove explorer..that doesn't mean anything for this dicussion.
As for international sales...don't forget that Ford Owns many foriegn owned companies and has stakes in others. Jaguar and Mazda are good examples...Opel's in Germany is another one...so it may not sell directly but indirectly they owned lot of market share.
As for non SUV sales....what about the Mustangs, Taurus, Towncars?..check the sale numbers!!! ARE THEY ALL BOGUS??? Wake up and smell the roses!!
Funny how you quoted me, but didn't check my profile. I'm not an Oddy owner. I own a Trooper which sells 10K cars in the US/yr. Outside the US the #s are much much higher (australia, asia, and sub-saharan africa) It cracks me up that you didn't check out my profile before lumping me into the Oddy crowd
I suppose the true test of any model of car is to see how well it does in a "neutral" country, meaning countries excluding: North America, Japan, Europe, and Korea (i.e. Africa, Middle East, etc...). That way we can reduce the number of purchases based on patriotic influences. As for Ford owning other companies, that's a given, so does Chevrolet. I think Opel's owned by Chevy, not Ford. But what's the point in comparing models that are only specific to one region of the world? (Heck, I wouldn't mind owning a Cogsworth Focus myself.) BTW, who owns Proton Automotive, anyone know? I think there is still a difference between Ford made products and those made by already established companies, owned by Ford, wouldn't you agree? As for an Expedition vs. Odyssey, it all boils down to what we value more, some people value ride/handling more than widgets and gadgets while others love power and could care less about mileage. The point is, is to choose something that suits YOUR needs (it's your money) rather than having other people tell you what your needs are.
I got good advice here on Edmunds. After shopping around I tried one of the internet sites that claimed to have dealers bid against each other but the best they did was still $1000 over MSRP. Since my wife and I were both tired of shopping ourselves we did as others here instructed, we named a price we were willing to pay for the car. Instead of calling all the dealers we went back on the internet and used Priceline.
I paid several hundred dollars over MSRP but the dealer included shipping in his acceptance to my offer. It took Priceline less than an hour to find me the car I wanted. The fellow there said it was unusually fast to get the offer taken so quickly, it had to do with the time of day I made my bid. I was told I could have gotten the car for less but I did not want to drive too far to pick it up at the dealer's.
From the Consumer Reports Sport Utility Guide for 2000. Expedition 8 city/22 highway and overall 16.
Jan 2001 issue of CR, Odyssey is 12/30 and 19 overall. I saw on CBS news that some "experts" are predicting $3.00 per gal by the end of the year so it could add up. So figure maybe $2.00-2.50/gal. The overall rating is good on the Expediton, but it is also more expensive to buy. For the 4WD it is listed for an average price of $36,000 (32525-39635) MSRP for the year 2000. Insurance and maintence is also higher.
So an Expedition will have significantly higher costs then the Odyssey. Reliability is below average. Injury rate compared to other vehicles is very good, wereas for the Odyssey it is excellent. So the reasons I would see to buy a Expedition over an Odyssey is if you are towing a big load, driving a lot of off road or are looking for the right image. I myself would prefer a Chevrolt Tahoe( I thing they now call it a Yukon) to a Ford Expedition.
Not that this adds much to the discussion but joshua1's comment: "An Ody gets 17 MPG in the city, as does the Chrysler T&C. The Expedition gets 16 MPG in the city with the 4.6L engine. Not exactly 50% more. Check you fuzzy math. Even the 5.4L engine gets 12MPG, which is 29% less, not 50%" was kind of interesting math to me especially the 29% less number. Another way to look at it would be how many gallons of gas are needed to go 1700 miles in the city, the Ody needs 100 gallons and the 5.4L engine Exp needs 141.7 gallons. About 42% more and rather close to the magic number 50%. Ah yes, fun with numbers... Is my gas tank half empty or half full? It all depends vehicle you want to justify, I mean drive. I drive an 2001 Ody (20mpg overall) and I used to drive a Civic (30mpg). I love the space but it costs me and the envrionment 50% more at the pump.
I have a brand new Oddy LX. THe Honda alarm was put by the Dealer. Sporadically, the alarm goes off for about 2 min and then stops, similar to someone pushing the panic button. I brought it back to the Dealer, he replaced the remotes, but the problem has not stopped. Has anybody else experiencing this problem? Thanks.
If it was going off even when the remotes were out of range then I think they took a long shot in the wrong direction in replacing them. Problems with the alarms are few and far between but it sounds like the main alarm box would be the culprit there. Does it only happen when the van is at a certain location or does it happen at when parked at various places?
I'm currently shopping for SS Ody EX. My wife wants leather seats and I'm thinking about getting it from Classic Soft Trim. Any comment on Classic Soft Trim? My local dealer is quoting me $1,400 for the leather (they do it in house) and only one year warranty.
Trevor, thanks for your response. You might be on to something as the same thought crossed my mind.
<< Does it only happen when the van is at a certain location or does it happen at when parked at various places?>> It happens when the van is parked in various places. What's even more weird is that it happens when the alarm is activated and NOT activated.
If you park near military installations, your alarm may be affected by whatever the military is emitting from their equipment. There's a naval base just north of Seattle, that when a warship docks, garage doors and car alarms start going off randomly in the entire neighborhood.
Also, if the alarm has glass breakage sensor, it may be triggered by loud thunder. And this: I was in a hotel room in San Francisco two nights ago, when a Harley-Davidson went by and revved its engine real loud. Guess what, a car parked on the street had its alarm go off.
Proton is a joint venture between the Malaysian government and Mitsubishi. Its first car was the Saga, followed by the Iswara and the Wira, all based on the Mitsubishi Mirage (Lancer). It also has a bigger model (forgot the name), based on the Galant.
There may be a handful of reasons Ford doesn't sell many of its own cars outside of North America, but one of them is interesting: As with the other two US automakers, Ford is very reluctant to make right hand drive versions of their vehicles. While it's true that most of the world are left hand drive, the Big 3 are missing out on countries like UK, Japan, Australia, and Malaysia
Economy of scale is not an excuse, you can find right hand drive cars from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and even Ferrari and Lamborghini. These are car makers whose home market are left hand drive.
BTW, Opel is owned by GM, not Chevy per se. And yes, there are right hand drive Opels.
Comments
If you live in Bayarea CA, you end up paying 30K for the EX with 1 month wait from the local Honda dealers all the way up to Oregon and south down to LA. If you go with Mazda ES your you get quoted around 26-27K..great van by the way...then for ultimate deal if you have to have Japanese..go for Nissan Quest at 21K GXE..In bay area for every Odyssey on the road you see 7 Villager/Quest...for the price you get loads of option along with best engine & transmission on the road (Pathfinder V6). If you still want Odyssey..there is one dealer in Elko, NV that will sell at MSRP $28,800 with NAV..but you gotta drive 10 hours and spend a night at a cheap motel.Now there are Sienna's and GC's but they are couple of thousand higher than Odyssey...for that price range..you get to argue with some folks about quality and reliability..bottom line..if you want Odyssey..you have to pay up...Go test drive the 3 mini's I mentioned..so you have a good knowledge on features and handling and etc.,
We have a problem, however, on this new Ody. When I got it from dealer, it had 3 miles on odemeter. But, it has the problem pulling to the left slightly from the very begining. This slightly pulling to the left makes hightway driving hard. Of course, I am going to ask dealer check it out. I want to ask how many of you experience such a problem? Are Honda doing worse job for quality control now than then?
Other than this problem, we have not notice other things. This long trip took about 700 mils.
"We've had 3 Odys (long story) and 2 had trannies replaced while we had them."
Could you share your experiences with us? You must have some luck with Honda's automatic transmissions:) Kind a fishy to me too! are you Ms. Blake's husband?:) -engine sluds with Toyota, and transmission failures with Honda.
"We were told that Honda would not allow the dealer to rebuild the tranny of these relatively new vehicles. Essentially, it was said that Honda wanted all problem trannies sent to them and that they wanted to take no chances on a dealer rebuild."
All modern automatic tranaxles are complicated animals. In general, Dealers don't have the time and expertise in house to overhaul them. It is a lot more cost effective to replace the entire unit if it is "REALLY" defective. Put it this way, it is likely to introduce more problems than trying to solve the original problem.
Any way, I "REALLY" don't think reverse engagement noise is an "ALARMING" issue. It's like a "FREE
My co-worker's 98 civic auto 4 cyl have had the noise since new; it has 50,000 miles now, and never a problem with the tranny. A co-worker with 2000 Ody EX, same noise, approximate 9000 miles, has no problem. another co-worker owns a 91 Acura Integra, 110,000 miles, same noise since new, with no problem whatsoever with his tranny. I went to dealer for free oil change the other day, there happened to be an 2001 Ody EX waiting to be oil changed also. I asked the Master Mechanic to test drive the van while I listened by the side of the vehicle; sure enough, there is that "thud" noise. My office budy had a 1985 accord, 350,000 miles, never have a problem with his auto trany and sold it for 900 bucks recently. Lastly, my wife's 91 accord EX, now with 200,000 miles, still going strong, don't remember hearing the noise but never had any problem with her transmission either. Well, I expect my 2000 Ody LX's trany to last for 150,000 miles at least.
One isssue thou, Ody is a heavy van, it puts a lot of stress on trany, and 100,000 extended waranty is a good idea to have. above just my humbled opinion:)
Happy driving!
Happy driving
as comfortable as the EX's because if they are not then we will buy an EX. We can't find an LX to look at. As you all know the market is very strong on these. Please let me know if
you have any insight into my dilema. Is the material comparable on the seats?
Thanks in advance!
Purchased SS Ody EX without Nav for well below MSRP on Friday, 4/13/01. It was low enough for me to drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Dayton, OH. I ordered it on 4/07/01 and both the dealership and I were expecting it at the end of the month. Boy, was I surprised. I bought it from Voss Honda dealership. I'm sure the midwest hospitality will be served to anyone who visits this dealership. However, my experience with Wally Scisson (800-597-8677) was ABSOLUTELY wonderful considering that this has been my seventh car I purchased in all my life.
I saw many messages that mentioned Kentucky and various parts of IN, OH, and IL offering below MSRP. I called all those mentioned in this forum during early part of April + I blindly contacted many Honda dealerships in these areas, including greater Pittsburgh, PA. There were a few who were willing to waive destination charge, but that wasn't enough for me. The only dealership who actually went below $440 above and beyond MSRP was Voss Honda and Wally Scisson as my saleperson.
They also provided HondaCare 7/100/0 for $875 without any hassel. I named the price, and they had no problem with it.
About three weeks ago, I knew I wanted to purchase a Honda Ody. I wasn't entirely clear about a LX versus EX w/o Navigation. The forum had mixed feelings about this. I have a five year old, two year old, and am expecting a third child within three weeks from today. Naturally, the automatic sliding doors are of concern. Nevertheless, during those moments of, let's say, grocery shopping, I think it's worthwhile to be able to just press a button and let the kids run right in...a feature I like to think of as a safety issue around the parking lot.
As for accessories, the prices Wally was offering were pretty good. They were a bit above what you can get at the HANDA-ACCESSORIES.COM. I ended up purchasing it from the website because I didn't have prior knowledge about it, but future customers may want to consider Wally's prices for the following two reasons: 1) the dealership installs them for you and 2) they are also covered as part of your warranty. The ones that I ordered (cargo tray, mud guards, wheel locks, and x-bars) will only have 12 months warranty. Something to consider.
Before Pickup:
After I made my initial call, everything was conducted via telephone calls and faxes. Wally and I agreed on a price. He faxed me a confirmation of what we had agreed including financing rate of 6.79% for 60 months. Wally was very professional and responded to my requests very promptly. He kept me informed as to what the current status of the vehicle was (e.g., he called and said that the vehicle is currently at Niagara Falls, and that it should be arriving the next day). All documentation that was needed for the processing of paperworks, he requested them in advance so that my time at the dealership was minimized (e.g., copy of drivers license). Lastly, he requested for my insurance information only to find out that I didn't need to do anything with my insurance until AFTER I returned home. Wally took care of all of that on my behalf. This was an experience I never had! Prior to the pickup, Wally gave me a great direction (from Pittsburgh, I70 west; I75 north at Dayton, OH; 3rd exit (exit #68), make a right onto State route 571; immediate right turn at the first stop light onto Garber Rd...there is a BP gas station and a McDonalds - with an activity center for the kids).
During Pickup:
Upon my arrival, Wally introduced himself and greeted me. The vehicle was in great shape; all the paperworks were ready. He went over the papers and introduced me to the financial manager who went over all the details including the financing of the vehicle. All of this took less than 30 minutes. Subsequently, Wally went over the vehicle. I used the great "check list" provided by this forum (www.1netweb.com/checklist.htm)...I checked what I could and they were all in great working order. I did ask Wally to demonstrate the following: second row seat slider; third row seats fold; and use of security features. Wally convincingly placed his arm without hesitation to demonstrate that the sliding doors will retrieve if it detects something in its way. Wally did exactly that + one more feature that I didn't know about nor read about. It's pretty neat. First, you remove all three headrests. You keep the third row seats in tact (i.e., don't fold it). Release the lever that holds the seat in place, then pull so that the third row seats are facing you. Although the hatch cannot be closed, it is a great feature (I think) for the kids when they are at the beach having a snack or during a soccer game for a quick stop. Most of all, for enjoying a sunset (which I plan to do in the near future).
The rest of the family now was able to "see" the vehicle. Needless to say, the kids went wild. I think that's because they can roam and walk inside of the vehicle. They loved it. Another family was next to us in their new Ody EX. Their kids, more grown up, went crazy also.
After pickup:
Because I rented a vehicle to drive to Dayton, OH, I had to return the vehicle to a nearby airport (about 8 miles away from the dealership). Wally was nice enough to take his time to drive to the airport with us so that we can drop our rental. During the drive back to the dealership, Wally shared additional Ody insight that was helpful. Overall, a very professional and pleasant gentleman.
There is an advertisement here in Pittsburgh that I had not believed in until I met Wally - who would have thought that one can have an ENJOYABLE experience purchasing a vehicle!
The 300 miles drive back home was very very pleasant. The vehicle was solid. Wally (well, the dealership) filled the tank up. We came home with the gas gauge indicating a bit over 1/4 remaining. The gas light has not come up at this point. I was informed by Wally that the light will typically come up when there is about 4 gallons remaining although it will vary a bit from car to car.
There is much more to my experience, but.....So, I hope that this is helpful, and I also hope that I didn't irritate anyone with such lengthy message. If you have specific questions for me, feel free to contact me at dgk@andrew.cmu.edu. I am a professor at the Carnegie Mellon University in case anyone is wondering.
I thought you would have mentioned it.
The comfort of the seats are purely subjective, especially on the LX. I'm not sure but I think the passenger seat is the same on both. I know that they have added height adjustment to 2001 LX so that is kind of nice. I have no problem with the LX seats but others have. I find that one needs to assume proper posture in order to be comfortable in the LX seat. They are not made for slouching IMHO. For long trips I put a pillow behind the 'ole lumbar and am comfortable for as long as I can stay awake.
Thanks for the info.
Is there anyone who has any complaints about the LX's driver or
passender's seat comfort?
I bought my Odyssey 2000 last August and from day one I heard the "thud" discussed in an earlier post. I took it to the dealer to get the "thud" checked out and they told me it was my strutts. They replaced them. Took the van home from the dealership only to find that the thud was still there when shifting gears. I've read that many Odysseys have a similar clunking sound. But it does concern me. Do you think that I should pursue a transmission replacement?
Would be nice if the 2002 US models came with heated side mirros like the Canadien models do (I think). It does get cold and freezing in the US too.(thought Honda would have realized that)
http://carpoint.msn.com/jump/news/jncbsnews_4019783_6.asp
3 of the top 6 spots is owned by Ford. Accord is the only product line by Honda listed there. So you may want to have H on your hood but zillion others want the blue logo.
-mike
Consumer Reports points out that a mini van is a more practical and more useful vehicle then a SUV, unless you need to do off road driving or tow a large load. The Ford Windstar, while a good van, is not as good as the Odyssey, as confirmed by a number of different test reports. Also test reports show a number of problems with the Ford SUV's. I drove a Ford Explorer for about 200 miles on a test drive, as I was considering that and the Odyssey. After I drove both vehicles, it was no contest. The Odyssey won out. Ford has re designed the Explorer for 2002, so that model may do well. The Ford Excursion is considered at the bottom of the SUV's, and sales for it are poor.
I had to replace about 20' of fence a few weeks ago. Went to the local hardware store and loaded up. With the third seat down, the back of one of the second row of seats folded forward, and the front passenger seat moved forward I was able to load-- 4 4x10'x10' posts(from the front dash to the rear hatch), 4 2x4x10's, 43, yes 43 1x6x8' fence boards and 3 90lb. bags of cement. And close the hatch. The van did not look appreciably lower either.
The v6 has plenty of power, the mileage is better than an suv (though maybe by not as much as we'd all like) good handling, no rollover worries compared to an suv, better resale value and maybe something the suv'ers don't consider, sliding doors on both sides. It's sure easier to get in and out of tight parking spaces not to mention loading when you don't have to worry about door clearance. As for 4wd, I live in Oregon where every other vehicle seems to be a 4wd and that 4wd is not used nearly as much as one would think it would be here. BTW I have a 2000 lx, no problems so far.
As for minivans, I'm not sure if the Windstar is sold in Europe, but I know the Odyssey is sold as a "La Great" in Japan and probably something else in Europe. Am I saying that all foreign cars are superior to domestics? Heck no. But, it does show that many foreign car companies can design a globally accepted automobile whereas the big Three does a good job catering to the Western Hemisphere. Okay, time to get off the soap box...
Druce
How about cargo space inside the vehicle? The Odyssey has about the same interior room as the Excursion while carrying less weight and sitting lower and burning much less gas.
Although your Odessey can hold as much on paper as an excursion, plese don't try to compare them, they are not built for the same purpose nor should they even come into the same discussion.
-mike
http://isuzu-suvs.com
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Anyhow, I believe it was frank2001 who began the Expedition vs. Odyssey debate, not any of us Ody owners. But as Ian2 pointed out, many people make up excuses for buying SUV's. Yes, there are people who actually use SUV's as their intended for (I have a '91 Nissan Pathfinder that's used to Pre-Run construction sites). Everyone's needs are different, but due to marketing of many auto companies, people THINK that an SUV would suit their needs the best, but in most cases they're mislead.
So the point is, I don't think any of us here are challenging the fact that an Ody does better offroading nor in the towing capacity department. Good day.
Druce
-mike
Going back to the Ody vs Expedition debate... To many of us Ody owners who don't tow anything over 3000lbs, an Expedition would not provide more utility. So what if they cost the same? People buy minivans because they provide more utility more efficiently. The Expedition sits higher making it hard to get in and out of, rolls over easier, drives like a truck, has less usable space while burning 50% more gas.
The main reason (admit it) people buy SUVs is because they want the sporty image (yeah, like an SUV will make a fat person look sporty). That's why we have so many cross-over, unibody, SUV-wannabes on the road right now. Hopefully, this attitude will change once recession hits later this year and as the baby-boomers age.
I am sure Sienna, GC owners say the same for your Odyssey since Honda doesn't offer basic options such as leather seat, running board, TV/VCR,moon roof or built-in child seat..most of these are a must for family with kids. If you buy them from 3rd party your Odyssey will cost over 35K or more.
Billg,...Explorer and Expeditions are two different SUV's one is lot smaller than the other..Compare apples to apples..just because you drove explorer..that doesn't mean anything for this dicussion.
As for international sales...don't forget that Ford Owns many foriegn owned companies and has stakes in others. Jaguar and Mazda are good examples...Opel's in Germany is another one...so it may not sell directly but indirectly they owned lot of market share.
As for non SUV sales....what about the Mustangs, Taurus, Towncars?..check the sale numbers!!! ARE THEY ALL BOGUS??? Wake up and smell the roses!!
-mike
As for Ford owning other companies, that's a given, so does Chevrolet. I think Opel's owned by Chevy, not Ford. But what's the point in comparing models that are only specific to one region of the world? (Heck, I wouldn't mind owning a Cogsworth Focus myself.) BTW, who owns Proton Automotive, anyone know? I think there is still a difference between Ford made products and those made by already established companies, owned by Ford, wouldn't you agree?
As for an Expedition vs. Odyssey, it all boils down to what we value more, some people value ride/handling more than widgets and gadgets while others love power and could care less about mileage. The point is, is to choose something that suits YOUR needs (it's your money) rather than having other people tell you what your needs are.
Druce
I paid several hundred dollars over MSRP but the dealer included shipping in his acceptance to my offer. It took Priceline less than an hour to find me the car I wanted. The fellow there said it was unusually fast to get the offer taken so quickly, it had to do with the time of day I made my bid. I was told I could have gotten the car for less but I did not want to drive too far to pick it up at the dealer's.
Jan 2001 issue of CR, Odyssey is 12/30 and 19 overall. I saw on CBS news that some "experts" are predicting $3.00 per gal by the end of the year so it could add up. So figure maybe $2.00-2.50/gal. The overall rating is good on the Expediton, but it is also more expensive to buy. For the 4WD it is listed for an average price of $36,000 (32525-39635) MSRP for the year 2000. Insurance and maintence is also higher.
So an Expedition will have significantly higher costs then the Odyssey. Reliability is below average. Injury rate compared to other vehicles is very good, wereas for the Odyssey it is excellent. So the reasons I would see to buy a Expedition over an Odyssey is if you are towing a big load, driving a lot of off road or are looking for the right image. I myself would prefer a Chevrolt Tahoe( I thing they now call it a Yukon) to a Ford Expedition.
"An Ody gets 17 MPG in the city, as does the Chrysler T&C. The Expedition gets 16 MPG in the city with the 4.6L engine. Not exactly 50% more. Check you fuzzy math. Even the 5.4L engine gets 12MPG, which is 29% less, not 50%"
was kind of interesting math to me especially the 29% less number. Another way to look at it would be how many gallons of gas are needed to go 1700 miles in the city, the Ody needs 100 gallons and the 5.4L engine Exp needs 141.7 gallons. About 42% more and rather close to the magic number 50%. Ah yes, fun with numbers... Is my gas tank half empty or half full? It all depends vehicle you want to justify, I mean drive. I drive an 2001 Ody (20mpg overall) and I used to drive a Civic (30mpg). I love the space but it costs me and the envrionment 50% more at the pump.
Thanks.
_Alex
afalkovich@lnc.com
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Does it only happen when the van is at a certain location or does it happen at when parked at various places?
-Trevor
thanks for your response. You might be on to something as the same thought crossed my mind.
<< Does it only happen when the van is at a certain location or does it happen at when parked at various places?>>
It happens when the van is parked in various places. What's even more weird is that it happens when the alarm is activated and NOT activated.
_ Alex
Also, if the alarm has glass breakage sensor, it may be triggered by loud thunder. And this: I was in a hotel room in San Francisco two nights ago, when a Harley-Davidson went by and revved its engine real loud. Guess what, a car parked on the street had its alarm go off.
Economy of scale is not an excuse, you can find right hand drive cars from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and even Ferrari and Lamborghini. These are car makers whose home market are left hand drive.
BTW, Opel is owned by GM, not Chevy per se. And yes, there are right hand drive Opels.